one4review | On 03, Aug 2025

In the hotbox basement of Greenside, something’s being fermented — and not just sweat. It’s hope, desperation, and that unmistakably Scottish cocktail of banter, heart and sheer bloody-mindedness.

Nick It for Munich is a high-octane, one-man play about Jamie Forsyth, a lad in his early 20s with one simple mission: get to Euro 2024 and watch Scotland play Germany. No money, an ill mum, a strained relationship with his dad — the odds are firmly stacked against him. But with a last-minute plan and a mix of friends, fiends, and pure gallus charm, Jamie sets off for Munich by hook, crook, or sheer nonsense.

This could’ve easily been just a laddish football tale, but it’s so much more. At its core, it’s a story about family, belonging, strained connections, and the mad, obsessive need we all have — to get somewhere that matters. It’s a quest narrative, just with more lager and emotional baggage.

Aric Hanscomb-Ryrie is terrific in the lead — not just as Jamie but as the full supporting cast. No wigs, no props — just expression, voice, and physicality. He slips between characters with ease and wit, bringing particular flair to Jamie’s stoic dad and a Begbie-esque bully named Stevie. It’s a performance full of stamina and nuance.

But the real engine here is the writing. The script is lean, funny, and packed with well-drawn characters. There’s no filler, no excess exposition — just a steady build towards something genuinely uplifting.

Once again, Edinburgh’s Crunch Collective delivers the goods. Scottish writing, Scottish voices, Scottish spirit — unpretentious, authentic, and brimming with heart. Nick It for Munich reminds us that chasing your dreams — whether it’s to a football stadium or putting a show in a sauna of black box theatre in Edinburgh in August — might just be the most noble, daft, and rewarding thing of all.

Football fan or not, you’ll want Jamie to make it.

****
Reviewed by Steve H
Greenside George Street
18.35 (1hr)
Until 9 Aug